Figure 2.

Influence of dopamine D₃ receptor deletion on cariprazine actions in behavioral models of depression. (A) Experimental paradigm for behavioral testing and CUS exposure of D₃ knockout mice (D₃-KO) and wild-type (WT) littermates (n = 6–8). Both genotypes were tested in the (B) sucrose consumption test (day 21 of chronic unpredictable stress [CUS]) and (C) novelty-induced hypophagia test (day 24 of CUS). All doses are in mg/kg. Results are expressed as mean ± SEM; ^#P<.0001 compared to non-stressed control group; **P<.01 compared to CUS + vehicle group; ***P<.0001 compared to CUS + vehicle group (1-way ANOVA and Fisher’s PLSD posthoc analysis). CAR, cariprazine; CONT, control; IMI, imipramine; VEH, vehicle.